As many of you know, Greg Dineen & Associates was approached to help the racing industry when the California Highway Patrol (CHP) decided to revoke it’s withholding of enforcement on over-length trailers without any warning to the racing industry. The CHP then showed up at a race and cited all of the teams (and delayed the start of the race for the fans). Read more
On July 11th the Obama Administration imposed duties on steel pipe coming from South Korea and seven other countries.
The duties ranged from 9.89% to 15.75%. The majority of the pipe is used in the oil industry. Read more
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” – John Muir
And so it goes….with U.S. EPA regulations on coal fired power plants. After the EPA rids the country of coal-burning power plants, they will be coming after the concrete industry.
Concrete is the second most consumed product in the world, second only to water! Concrete pumps need concrete so the production of concrete and the availability of water should both be of some interest to you.
Both power plants and cement is produced using coal. Cement is produced in a kiln under high heat, the other boils water. Both utilize coal which produces a by-product called fly ash. For many years it was considered a waste material or by-product, but no longer. Read more
Employers possibly even outside of California will be dealing with another new labor law next July 1 – three days of paid sick leave is now required for almost all workers.
In a public bill signing ceremony by Gov. Jerry Brown, in Los Angeles earlier this month Gov. Brown proclaimed that, “Whether you’re a dishwasher in San Diego or a store clerk in Oakland, this bill frees you of having to choose between your family’s health and your job.” Adding, “Make no mistake, California is putting its workers first.” The Governor’s office claimed that about 6.5 million, or 40 percent, of California’s “workforce” does not receive any paid sick leave. This number seems suspiciously inflated and likely includes the self-employed and independent contractors too. Read more
At 3:20 A.M. on August 24, when something woke me from a deep sleep, my bed began to shake and I heard what sounded like my windows cracking.
“Earthquake!” I yelled as the family congregated in the hallway to watch the hanging ceiling light continue to sway for at least 3 minutes. I instantly went to the USGS website (www.data.scec.org/recenteqs/) and it was already there, 6.0 centered in American Canyon just 20 miles from me. “FaceBook” was busy as friends in Napa began to post pictures of their homes, debris spilled everywhere. Read more
California courts can’t seem to burden employers enough. Last month it was mandatory provided and paid for meal and rest breaks for truck drivers. This month it is cell phone use and expenses. What’s next?
In an August 12th decision, a Los Angeles based State Appeals Court ruled that employers must pay their employees a “reasonable” reimbursement for the business use of the employees’ cell phone. Read more
Interstate Batteries Program Cancelled
Unfortunately, we are up against dealer politics within Interstate Batteries. Apparently. While the Interstate battery program was being pushed at a corporate level, it was totally dependent on the local Interstate dealers and whether or not they wanted to go along with the CCTA small business program – which we found out recently that they don’t and won’t support. Read more
When the LA Ports “Clean Truck” Concession Agreement scheme was hatched in 2007, everyone involved understood the games and politics that were being played behind the scenes.
Under the moniker of “clean air at all cost”, as diesel emissions were claimed back then to cause 18,000 premature deaths annually in California, these incessant health claims were the only way to get public and political support to get rid of all the old junk trucks that worked around the ports. Thus the enviros, made-up of many powerful NGOs, and special interests in-turn paid for all the community activists – their end game was to get all new clean diesel trucks at the port, and eventually require all trucks to run on clean renewable – mainly electric by 2020 or 2025. Read more
The Bill caps a 6 year effort by Dems, it will make it a requirement next July 1, to provide and pay most employees for at least 3 sick days each year
Well, there never seems to be a shortage of bad news if you’re an employer, and this month is no exception. Along with the new employee cell phone reimbursement requirements here (See page 9), virtually all employers will now be saddled with a requirement to provide non-union employees with a minimum of 3 paid sick days if they work 90-days or more in California. Read more
On July 14, we sent a letter to DIR questioning this new $300 tax to work on a Public Works construction job site as a result of yet another labor backed bill.
Promptly on August 4, DIR sent a response back to us saying that “Yes” all workers employed by contractors and subcontractors in the execution of any contract for public work are deemed to be employed upon public work.” Than the response spins two other kind of related court decisions into state laws have concluded that trucking companies that worked for a contractor or subcontractor and preformed an integral part of the contract where really “subcontractors” too. A copy of the DIR response in located on our website. Read more
